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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Durham University

998 replies

NotEnoughTime · 04/02/2020 14:18

Hello.

How many of us are waiting for their DC to hear back from Durham? My DS applied back in October last year and is getting very down now he knows that others who have received offers are being informed that they will be told soon re college allocations.

I am usually a 'no news is good news' type of person but even I am finding it hard to be upbeat as I too am fed up Confused

I wish they would just let him me know soon if he is going to get an offer or a rejection and then he can get on with his life and his A Level revision without this hanging over him.

OP posts:
alterego2 · 08/12/2020 16:32

DD also home tomorrow. No test but, as I say, we know she had it at the beginning of term - and she has just finished her 3rd period of isolation so I feel fairly safe.

nipersvest · 08/12/2020 23:37

DD is coming home tomorrow, she had a lateral flow test in the end which was negative so not worrying about her now given she's already had covid.

janinlondon · 09/12/2020 09:03

Haven't heard from Durham re return dates - the university I work for has put out a statement saying that students are citizens and can return at any time they like....

alterego2 · 10/12/2020 12:19

DD heard this morning that she is due back on 11/1. Apparently her BA course is just practical enough to require her presence! She's going to decide what she's doing when she knows when her friends are supposed be back.

I don't know where you work @janinlondon but it is great to hear of a university actually treating its students as adults.

janinlondon · 10/12/2020 12:42

Alterego - do you know if that was a university/faculty/ or college communication? Just wondering what method they are using to notify the students...Thanks!!

TerfTerfTerf · 10/12/2020 16:51

DS says term starts on the 11th but since all his stuff is online except a seminar every other Friday, he's not sure when he'll return - I think he'll be liaising with his flatmates.

alterego2 · 11/12/2020 23:08

@janinlondon - DD says the email was from the university

janinlondon · 12/12/2020 09:45

Thanks Alter - I've found it (with all the courses and categories!) on the website.

janinlondon · 16/12/2020 13:37

Train booked for return on 12 January - for info, direct trains from Kings Cross are severely limited on the weekends in January.

KingscoteStaff · 16/12/2020 16:42

DS going up on Friday 8th, I think.

janinlondon · 17/12/2020 10:05

Ah...DD wanted to get up there earlier to get back into the LFT work, but Castle are not opening to residents till the Sunday......and no trains on Sunday.

Baytreemum · 17/12/2020 13:08

Thanks mumsnetters - getting DD to book now - there were no tickets available a couple of days ago when I looked, so thanks for the tip-off!

KingscoteStaff · 30/12/2020 16:00

Tier 4 curses curses curses

Baytreemum · 30/12/2020 22:12

I know, it’s beastly for them, back to lockdown. Many of DD’s friends are not returning sadly.

Aixenprovence · 31/12/2020 10:53

Do you mean they're staying at hone to work online Baytree, or dropping out of the course (I assume the former?)

I do wonder if this will change the 'going away for university' culture slightly in the longer term - younger dc now seeing their older brothers/sisters doing a degree from home, no face to face contact, not using the accom they're paying rent for etc, may decide not to go for that model of HE. Not necessarily a good/bad thing if it does change, but will be interesting to see if there are long-term effects.

Baytreemum · 31/12/2020 12:12

@Aixenprovence Yes they’re studying from home. A lot of DD’s friends are from overseas and Europe so they are not coming back at the moment, but also some UK ones can’t face another term of “lockup” and are delaying return. It’s a dire situation for tutorials and learning with and from peers, to say nothing of the social isolation, loneliness and deprivation of all the things these amazing young people should be experiencing now.

Aixenprovence · 31/12/2020 12:22

Yes, that is completely different from what 'the university experience' has previously been understood to be (I know some students have always lived at home, but not with online-only learning).

For first years in particular it must have been very difficult to make friends - either you gel with the flat (they often don't!) or, what? I know on mn there were some parents hoping things would improve for their dc this term with clubs, societies etc reopening - but it seems it won't be just yet.
Not a great ad for any Yr 13 currently deciding what to do next year - unless they need to do a vocational degree I suppose. Then perhaps the social side is less important.

Terfterfterf · 31/12/2020 12:59

DS waiting for guidance from Stevo about return dates.

He's had two zoom meetings - one just before Xmas with the provost and one yesterday with his politics project group and lecturer - he doesn't know the rest of the group and it will all be done online through chat group and email.

Seems pretty chilled about next term, is getting on well with online learning, and has a good relationship with his 3 flat mates and other 10 housemates. Has learned to drink but not yet how to pace himself Grin which is quite funny.

I'm really enjoying having him home (other than the messy kitchen and food disappearing so fast!) so I don't mind if he doesn't go back on the 9th as he'd planned.

janinlondon · 03/01/2021 15:36

Anyone have any ideas about what the "rent reduction" on offer for A subject students who don't return in the first two weeks of term might be...?

KingscoteStaff · 03/01/2021 19:31

@janinlondon Thanks for that link - DS hasn't been able to log in to his Uni email as he's changed phone and the confirmation code isn't working!

He is very impressed by my sneaky beaky knowledge!

Baytreemum · 04/01/2021 15:28

@janinlondon last year we didn’t have to pay DD’s college bill for the third term as she was locked down at home, so probably on a pro rata basis I would imagine.

janinlondon · 04/01/2021 15:36

Ah, thanks @Baytreemum. DD was living out last year so I wasn't sure what they did.

Terfterfterf · 04/01/2021 17:15

@janinlondon thanks for that link. Asked DS about it (he's been saying every day that he hadn't heard from uni), and he admits that yes he has had that email but that it's not fair, some of his flatmates have gone back and why should he wait til the end of Jan? Didn't fancy a row so have left it for now, but if Boris announces a full lockdown tonight, I guess the decision is made for DS Grin

janinlondon · 07/01/2021 14:45

So where are your Durham students now? I am presuming that a lot of the second years and above are back if they are in private rented accommodation.......but probably fewer of those who are in college halls?

WinterRobin · 07/01/2021 16:23

Has everyone had the email today saying,
“ Headlines

With a very few exceptions, all teaching and learning will now be online only for the entirety of Epiphany Term – up to 19 March 2021.

Students not currently in Durham should not return to Durham City before the start of Easter Term 2021, at the earliest.

College accommodation charges are waived for students not in residence in Epiphany Term 2021.

The University will work hard to ensure that learning outcomes and the graduation of students are achieved on time.

The University will work as hard as it can to provide students with an enhanced Easter Term within the prevailing national context.”

😐 My dd is concerned that’s she’s left her books there and needs them for exams later this term 🤯

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